Interstate truck accidents are among the most dangerous accidents on the road due to the high speed and weight of large commercial trucks. When a big truck hits your car, your chances of being seriously injured or killed are much higher than in a crash between two passenger vehicles.
If you’ve been injured in an interstate truck crash in the Florida Panhandle, you may be facing high medical bills and a long time away from work. You may even require long-term medical care. You shouldn’t have to face that expense and uncertainty alone.
An interstate truck accident attorney at Cardoso Law, PLLC, can help. Based in Pensacola, Florida, we have earned a reputation for relentlessly pursuing optimum compensation for our clients. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn what we can do for you.
Overview of Interstate Truck Accidents in Pensacola, Florida
Why are severe accidents between trucks and passenger vehicles so common in Pensacola, Florida? It comes down to location. Interstate 10 passes through the city on its way from California to Jacksonville, and many big trucks use I-10 to carry goods into the Sunshine State. When one of these trucks gets in an accident with a passenger car, the people in the car can suffer catastrophic injuries.
If a tired or distracted truck driver makes a mistake on I-10, the high speeds of interstate travel and the sheer weight of a big truck combine to make any accident much more devastating. That’s why so many serious truck accidents occur in Pensacola.
Complexities of Interstate Truck Accident Cases
All personal injury cases are complex, but interstate truck accident cases are especially so. Filing a commercial carrier insurance claim is a complicated process, but that is only one of the factors that makes these cases so challenging for most people to understand. There are also jurisdictional issues to resolve and federal regulations that all truck drivers must abide by. Understanding these regulations can be critical to successfully resolving your claim.
An experienced truck accident attorney who’s handled interstate truck accident claims can help you navigate these complexities.
Common Causes of Interstate Truck Accidents
Interstate truck accidents happen for many reasons, and there is often more than one reason for a particular accident. Factors leading to interstate truck accidents include:
- Driver fatigue, often the result of not complying with federal hours-of-service regulations
- Vehicle maintenance issues, which may be the fault of the driver, the carrier company, or a third party
- Poor weather conditions causing slick roads, fog, flooding, and other issues
- Improperly loaded cargo
- The extra stopping time a large truck needs when braking
Injuries Commonly Associated with Interstate Truck Accidents
The mass of a big truck is much greater than that of a passenger vehicle, and accidents on the interstate often happen at dangerously high speeds. As a result, accidents with interstate trucks are often especially severe, causing long-term impacts on the survivors. Injuries commonly associated with interstate truck accidents include:
- Broken bones
- Laceration
- Whiplash
- Internal injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burns
- Amputations
- Traumatic brain injuries
Catastrophic injuries require more extensive treatment, sometimes including modifications to your home or vehicle. Recovering from severe injuries can take a long time and can involve extensive medical treatment, including long-term care. Truck crash victims shouldn’t have to pay those expenses themselves; whoever is responsible for the accident should.
What to Do After an Interstate Truck Accident
To ensure the best medical and legal outcomes after an interstate truck accident, take these steps:
- Call 911 and file a report with the responding officer.
- If you can, photograph your injuries and the damage to your vehicle as well as the accident scene.
- Get medical attention right away, even if you think you only have minor injuries. Some injuries are not as minor as they may seem.
- Ask your doctor for copies of all medical tests or reports.
- Contact a commercial truck accident lawyer immediately.
Liability in Interstate Truck Accidents
In Florida, all registered vehicles and their drivers must be covered by no-fault insurance. That means that every driver injured in a crash with a commercial truck must first turn to their own personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. PIP covers up to $10,000 of medical expenses, lost wages, and out-of-pocket costs for the accident. But if the accident resulted in permanent and significant scarring, disfigurement, or other permanent and significant injury or death, they can file a claim against the at-fault party’s insurance policy.
However, truck accident liability is sometimes complex. Some drivers own and operate their own trucks, while others drive a company truck, which a third party may maintain. Who is liable in an interstate truck accident depends on the specifics of the case, but liable parties can include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The manufacturer of a defective truck part
- The company responsible for maintenance
- The party responsible for loading the trailer
An interstate truck accident attorney can determine who can be held liable for the accident.
Navigating Insurance Claims After Commercial Truck Accidents On Interstates
Interstate truck accident claims are complicated because trucking companies carry a different type of insurance than passenger vehicle drivers.
Commercial carrier insurance claims involve more paperwork that can be confusing to fill out. Liability questions also complicate the matter, as more than one party can be liable in a truck accident, and each insurance company wants to avoid paying more than necessary.
An experienced interstate truck accident law firm will have filed similar claims many times before. Your truck accident lawyer can file your claim without making any mistakes and pursue the compensation you need to get back on your feet.
Contact Our Interstate Truck Accident Attorneys in Pensacola for Help
The interstate truck accident lawyers at Cardoso Law, PLLC, help accident victims in Pensacola and throughout the Florida Panhandle region. We have extensive experience in interstate truck accident cases across Florida.
We offer a free case review so you can tell us all about the accident, and we don’t collect any fees unless we succeed in securing compensation for you. As soon as you hire us, we will begin a full investigation to determine the facts in your case. We will interview eyewitnesses, request police reports, and review your medical records. Once we’re ready to proceed, we’ll send a demand letter to the insurance company and begin negotiations for a settlement.
If the insurance company refuses to settle your case, we will take them to trial and use the evidence we have gathered in our investigation to pursue the full compensation you deserve. Throughout the personal injury claim process, you will be able to reach us anytime you need to. When we say “Cardoso Cares,” we mean it.
Contact Cardoso Law, PLLC, today, and let’s get started on your case.